Building construction



July 3, 1934. T, 1 FOSTER 1,964,728

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 2, 1952 j THOMASJ. FOSTER PatentedJuly 3, 1934 UNITED STATES PATET GFFME 13 Claims.

This invention relates to joints for preformed Wall and roof slabs inmodern light weight, re resisting building construction, and aimsgenerally to improve the same.

Important objects of the invention, severally and inter-dependently, areto improve upon the building slab framing and joining means disclosed inmy Patent No. 1,825,346, dated September 29, 1931; to provide partitionslabs of improved construction enabling rapid erection and joiningthereof to form a wall; to provide an improved slab-joint assembly forgeneral use in building construction; and to provide certain new andimproved elements entering into such assembly; as will hereinafter morefully appear in connection with the following description of preferredembodiments of my invention.

Further objects and advantages of the invention not here enumerated willalso be apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is notrestricted to the embodiments described.

In the accompanying drawing of illustrative embodiments of theinvention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of one form of slabframe;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a form of spring clip suitable tocooperate therewith;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of a joint between two slabsembodying the elements of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a slab embodying the elements ofFig. 1 and a novel top and bottom mounting cooperating therewith;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of a modiiied construction employedas inside furring for an exterior wall;

Figs. 6 and 8 are respectively transverse sectional views of modifiedforms of slab-joints; and

Fig. 7 is a detailed sectional view of a modied form of joint clip andslab framing.

A preliminary reference to my Patent No. 1,825,346, particularly Figs.4, 5, 6 and 7, will make clear the relationship of the presentimprovements to my prior invention. In my prior patent I provided forthe construction of building slabs by securing framing members to afacing sheet and lling the shallow box-like structure thus formed withheat and sound proof plastic material such as cellular gypsum or thelike, and disclosed various kinds and formations of the edge framing ina manner to enable the slabs to be fastened together conveniently, as bynailing or tongue and groove connection.

lWv present invention relates to the same type of slab and provides animproved edge framing (Cl. Y2-16) and joint construction enabling theslabs to be set up in place and secured together with greatly increasedrapidity and neatness and providing better insulation of the joints. Apreferred form of slab edge framing is clearly illustrated in Fig. 1 60of the accompanying drawing, and comprises a metal channel 12 providedwith suitable means 16 for receiving the joint cover strips 17 (see Fig.2).

In the illustrative construction of Fig. 3 the slabs A and B are eachcomprised of a filling 10 65 of light weight heat and sound proofmaterial such as set cellular gypsum, interposed between facing sheetsl1 of sheet-rock, gypsum-board or the like, and confined at the edges ofthe slabs by framing 12 suitably secured to the facing sheets 70 11 asby adhesive 13 or rivets 14, for example. The framing 12 is preferablyof channel or U- shape as shown, and formed of drawn-steel or othersheet metal for lightness and permanency. To provide for nailing intothe slabs as for the attachment of door and window trim, picture moldingor the like, blocks 15 of wood or other suitable material may beembedded in the slabs, and these blocks may be adhesively or otherwisesecured to either or both facing sheets if this is desired.

As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the bases of the channel-like membersl2 forming the edges of the slab are provided with engagement means,such as the depressed beads 16 adjacent the 85 bends of the U-shapedsections, to receive cooperating engagement elements 19 carried by thecover strips 17 which are in the form of spring clips in theconstruction illustrated. The engagement means may be of any suitabletype, and where indented beads 16 are employed these beads may run theentire length of the channel members if this is desired, although Iprefer, as shown in Fig. 1, to construct the side channels 12 withunbeaded portions intervening between 95 the portions having the beads16 so that the engagement of the clips 17 with the beads 16 of adjoiningslabs will assist in aligning the slabs and for other purposeshereinafter set forth.

The spring clip joint covers 17, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, arelikewise of channel-section, with a flat base or head portion whichinthe form shown lies ush with the surfaces of the slabs and covers thejoint therebetween, and with parallel spring arms or leg portions 18which lie 105 adjacent the slab-edges and are provided with cooperatingengagement elements 19, which in the form shown are made generallyhook-shaped to cooperate with the bead-like engagement means 16 of theslab-framing 12. 110

In the preferred forms of my invention provision is made for renderingthe partition construction substantially soundproof, by mounting alledges of the slabs in insulating material such as mineral wool or thelike; suitable means 26 for insulating the joints between partitionslabs being indicated in Fig. 3, and similar means 20e, 201, forinsulating the slabs at their tops and bottoms being indicated in Fig.fl, as hereinafter described.

The insulation of the joints in accordance with Fig. 3 is preferablyaccomplished when the slabs have been set up ready to be joined togetherby the spring clips 17, and is effected by inserting between theslab-edges a thick strip 2G of insulating material such as mineral wool,soft enough to allow the spring clips 17 to be pushed into place, but rmenough to make a cushion to support the partition slab. When rstinserted the edges of the strip 20 may extend beyond the faces of thepartition, if desired, and the edges of the strip may be somewhatthinner than its center portion to facilitate the application of thespring clips 17 which, when inserted as shown in Fig. 3, compress thestrip in-the space between the slab-edges. This compression of the strip20 not only insures firm abutment of its middle portions against theslab edges to destroy vibrations in the partition slab, but also resultsin firmly pressing the engagement elements 19 into place and preventsthe passage of sound through the joint by stopping all cracks and openspaces with sound insulating material. The staggered arrangement of theengagement means 16 and engagement elements 19 prevents too muchcompression of the strip 20 at one place and prevents the clip frombeing pushed too far in as well as helping align the slabs, ashereinafter set forth, while the notched spaces 21 between theengagement elements 19 increase the area of contact between thecompressed strip 20 and the slab edges thus further improving thesoundproof quality of the wall construction.

The insulation of the bottoms of the slabs (see Fig. 4) is preferablyeffected by erecting the slab on an insulating strip 20D in lieu of orsuperposed upon the usual sill, and if the bottom edge of the partitionis to be finished with ordinary foot boards or moldings these will serveto retain the Vstrip 20b in place, so that no clips or engagementelements need be employed at the bottom edge of the slab, and the bottomframing element 12b (see Figs. 1 and 4) need not be provided withengagement means.

The insulation of the tops of the slabs as illustrated in Fig. 4 ispreferably accomplished by the use of modified spring clips 17a havingone leg 18EL provided with engagement elements 19a and the other leg 181plain and adapted to lie flat against the ceiling member 22. Theslabedge framing l2*l at the top edge of the slab, and its engagementmeans 16a may be substantially similar to the side frame members 12 andtheir engagement means 16, and the insulation strip 202 is substantiallysimilar to the strip 2O of Fig. 3. In assembling the top-mounting, thesame procedure is followed as in the case of the slab-joints of Fig. 3,the strip 20a being first inserted, after which the clips 171L areinserted to the position shown, compressing the strip 2()a tightly inthe space between the member 12e and the ceiling 22.

From the foregoing description it will be ap-l parent that my inventionprovides a cushioned support for the wall slab or other buildingconstruction to which it may be applied, and that particularly whenapplied to partition construction (as in Figs. 3 and 4) an easilyerected and substantially sound proof construction is assured.

My invention is obviously capable of many modifications depending uponthe desired form of application, and various details oi constructionwill answer my purpose without departing from its primary principles.For example, in applying the invention in the furring of outside walls,as indicated in Fig. 5, the slab C may be constructed with a single face11C, and the slab-edge framing 12c needs to be provided with engagementmeans 16c only adjacent to said face 11C, and may have its other edgeslit and bent alternately in opposite directions as shown at 23, 24e, t0provide leveling screeds 23c for the plastic filling c and hold itsecurely in place, and to supply abutment means 24@ to cooperate withthe spring clips in compressing the insulating strips C. Such furringslabs may be erected in the same manner as the partition slabs exceptthat spring clips 17C need be inserted only from one side of the slabs,the other side being spaced from the outside wall D by any suitablemeans (not shown). On the side edges of the furring slabs the tongues24C should preferably be arranged so that there will be no conflictbetween those of adjacent slabs, while the tongues by their alternatelyplaced relation will cooperate to provide a sufficiently continuousabutment between adjacent slabs for the compression of the interposedinsulating strip. Obviously double spring clips will be used betweenadjacent furring slabs, as in Fig. 3, although Fig. 5 shows only thesingle clip 17c employed at the top edge of the slab.

As examples only, of modifications which may be made in the constructionof building sla-bs according to my invention, I have shown in Fig. 5

a reinforcing mesh 25c of expanded metal, wire fabric or the like,embedded in the plastic filling 10c, a coating of water proofingmaterial27 applied to that side of the slab adjacent the outside wall D, and theprovision of tongues 26 partially struck out of the framing 12c andembedded in the core ofthe slab. Similar struck-out tongues maybeemployed in other forms of the invention, as indicated at 26 in Fig. 4.

Furthermore, whilo I prefer to employ the sheet metal type of framingillustrated in Fig. l, my invention is not limited in this respect, andas shown in Fig. 6 may be practiced in connection with wooden framingmembers 12d, by providing them with engagement means such as the beads16d for engagement by spring clips similar to those above described.Moreover, as indicated in Fig. 6, the edge framing l2d may be secured toone of the facing sheets 11d, preferably that upon which the plasticfilling is poured in manufacture, by adhesive 13d, and the other sheetsecured to the edge framing by nailing, as indicated at 14d. A slightlysimpler form of wooden edge framing 12ig is shown in Fig. 8, wherein theouter edges are beveled to provide notches for the flanges 19g of thespring clips 17g to catch in behind the edges of the slab facings 11g.

It is believed that the foregoing examples are sufiicient to indicateclearly that my invention is not limited to particular details ofconstruction of the slabs; and with the further purpose of presentingexamples of the numerous modifications that may be made in the'construction of the spring clips, I have shown three modified formsthereof in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.

In the 'mst of these modied forms', shown at I1'7u1 in Fig. j'thebase ofthe clip iswidene'dand slightly down turned at its lateral lmargins toabut closely theslab facings V11d at Isorrlelittle distance from theiredges, and thus' conceal any chipping of the edges, or, in case thefacings are `nailedfas at 14d, to concealthenail heads adjacent thejoint. As shown, I prefer to make clips of this type of a single metalstrip bent up into the desired form although my invention is not limitedin this respect.

Another form of clip shown in Fig. 6 at 17e also has an enlarged head,which is intended to lie flush with the faces of the slabs, andpreferably is formed from a single piece of metal. With this form ofclip the facing sheets 11d either terminate short of the edge of theslab or are cut back therefrom to eliminate chipped edges, thusproviding spaces 27d to receive the enlarged head of the clip 17e. As isclearly shown in Fig. 6, both of these forms of clip compress the edgeof the insulating strip 20d insuring a tight and soundproof joint.

It will also be apparent that the head portion of the spring clip may beformed in any desired way either for utility or ornamentation, and maybe beaded or molded to simulate fancy panel stripping or the like asillustrated in Fig. 1, where the clip is designated l'lf, or made flatto be entirely contained in the spaces between the slab facing sheets asillustrated in Fig. 8, where the clip is designated 17g. In addition myinvention contemplates the use of such forms of engagement means as maybe best adapted for the particular application to which the invention isto be put. For example, under some circumstances, where relatively softinsulating material is to be retained in place by the spring clips itmay be desirable to shape the engagement elements 19 in such a manner asto insure against any tendency of the insulating material to enterbetween them and the engagement means 16 and interfere with properengagement of the parts. This may be v accomplished in any suitable wayand in Fig. 7 I have shown the engagement element l9f shaped to providea relatively sharp leading edge f which will press along the edge of thejoint as the clip is inserted and throw all the insulating material intothe clip avoiding any tendency to curl or fold the edges of theinsulating strip. In this figure I have also indicated formation of theengaging means 16f simply by punching a slit in the member l2 in lieu ofbeading the same.

Thus it is clear that my invention is not restricted to the specificforms and modes of application disclosed and is subject to numerousmodifications as circumstances may demand.

Having described sundry illustrative embodij ments, I claim as myinvention:

l. A wall construction comprising adjacent slabs and joining meanstherebetween, in which the adjacent edges of the slabs are provided withengageable means at points spaced from their j exposed faces; and inwhich the joining means comprises a clip member, interposed between theslab-edges adjacent an exposed face of the structure, and provided withengageable elements cooperating with said engageable means to main- Ytain the mutual relationship of the parts.

2. A wall construction according to claim l in which the clip membercomprises a base and parallel spring arms extending therefrom andcarrying said engageable elements, and in which a strip of insulatingmaterial is interposed between the slab edges and held in place by saidjoining means'. f

3. A wall construction, according to claim 1, in which the clip membercomprises a base and parallell spring arms extending therefrom carryingsaid engageableelements, and in which said base constitutes means forcovering the space between the slab-edges.

4. A wall construction according to claim 1 in which the clip membercomprises a base and parallel spring arms extending therefrom carryingsaid engageable elements, and in which said base is of greater widththan the 'space between the slabs and overlies the adjacent marginalportions of the slabs to hide the joint therebetween.

5. A wall construction comprising a building slab and a building elementin spaced relation to an edge thereof, said edge of the slab beingprovided with engageable means spaced from the exposed face of the slab,and a clip member interposed between said slab-edge and said buildingelement and provided with engageable elements cooperating with saidengageable means for retaining the member in position.

6. A wall construction according to claim 5 in which said building slabcomprises an edge framing presenting said engageable means in positionto receive said clip member, in which said edge framing is provided withan abutment spaced from the edge which receives the clip member, and inwhich a strip of insulating material is compressed between saidabutment, said clip member, said edge framing and said building element.

'7. A building construction comprising heading and footing elements andwall slabs in upstanding relation therebetween, said wall slabs beingsubstantially insulated from one another and from said heading andfooting elements by strips of insulating material, and clip meansengaged between said slabs and retaining in position the insulatingmaterial therebetween.

8. A building construction according to claim 7 in which additional clipmeans engaged with the top edges of said slabs serve to retain inposition the insulating material thereabove.

9. A building slab comprising a substantially self-sustaining sheetlikefacing, an edge framing secured thereto and provided with engagementmeans adjacent the edge of the facing in spaced relation to the exposedsurface thereof, said engagement means providing for the reception andretention of mounting-clip members, and a lling of heat and sound proofset plastic material within said framing.

10. A building slab comprising a substantiall self-sustaining sheetlikefacing, a sheet metal edge framing of substantially U-shapedcrosssection secured thereto with its base outwardly presented, saidbase having engagement means adjacent a bend of the U-shaped section inspaced relation to the exposed surface of the facing to provide for thereception and retention of mounting clip members, and a filling of heatand sound proof set plastic materials within said framing substantiallyfilling said U-shaped framing;

11. Building slab mounting means, comprising members to be carried atthe edges of the slabs presenting engagement means positioned to lie inspaced relation to the exposed faces of the slabs, and spring clipsembodying a base portion and leg portions extending therefrom to projectfrom the face of the slab inwardly adjacent said edge members providedwith engagement elements positioned to cooperate with said engagementmeans when said spring clips are inserted adjacent the edges of theslabs.

12. Building slab mounting means according 5 to claim 11 in which saidspring-clip-base portions are enlarged and extend over the edges of theslabs to hide the joints.

structure.

THOMAS J. FOSTER.

jso

